SHIPWRE K RELIEF SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3021, 7 February 1912, Page 53

SHIPWRE K RELIEF SOCIETY.

The annual report for the year ended 31st December, 1911, contains tho following clauses:— In presenting the annual report, for the past year your committee is pleased to be able to record that, this year having been freo from any serious disaster on our coast, there has been no heavy call on the funds of tho society. In February last word was received of tho wreck at the Macquaric Islands of the s.s Jessie Niccol. the survivors bein.g taken to the Bluff. Tho sum of £l3 was paid to the survivors and £ls Is 2d sent Home to the wife of the late Captain Holmes, who lost his life in the -wreck. In July last a wire was received from the Collector of Customs, Christchurch, stating tliat the Bell Flower had been wrecked at Banks Peninsula, and that the survivors required immediato relief. Tile sum of £25 was at once forwarded to Ohristchurch, and this amount was found sufficient to meet the necessary requirements. In August last your society received word of the wreck of the Puritan on a reef near Tahiti. Some members of the crew were landed ex Maitai almost destitute, and the sum of £ls was immediately forwarded for the relief of the members of tho crew. This was all the relief that the society was oalivd upon to give during the year; and if. is pleasing to note that tho society's prompt response to these appeals was greatly appreciated. fiinco tho close of ilu *. i* 3 * two mors vi'i'wl** have .occurred—-

viz., the Clyde and the Jane Douglas. In both cases the society afforded needed relief.

Your executive- has -again to express t3ie society's thanks to the Union Steam Ship Company for continued valuable support — the sum of £l6O 13s 9d having been received by collections and entertainments on board the company's steamers; also to the Huddart-Parker Proprietary (Limited) for the sum of £l3 5s 4d collected on board the s.s. Ulimaroa. The executive wishes also to thank the fopowinir Harbour Boards for contributions to* the fund—viz. : Otago, Wellington, and Bluff, £lO 10s each; Westport, £5 ss; Thames, £2 2s; Wairoa, £l. The sum of £l2 6s 2d was receivod from the trustees of the late James Ball, in connection with the legacy left by him to the society.

The society received the very handsome contribution ,of £7OO from the Penguin Relief Fund Committee, "Wellington.

The executive has again to express its appreciation of the continued interest taken in the society by Captain Fleming, the socieif's Auckland representative. To Mr F. S. Shell, who is acting as our Wellington representative, „and Mr H. R. Spence, at Invercargill, we are also indebted for valuable services rendered-.

The accumulated funds of the society now amount to £3862 Is 6d, of which £2BOO is on deposit with the City Corporation svnd £IOOO is invested in municipal debentures. It is to be retrretted that we have not been able 'to secure a permanent representative In some ports. Obviously this is a drawback to the work of the society, the great aim of which is to relieve, not only liberally and effectually, but with the utmost promptitude.